Dear campus community,

As we all know, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe v. Wade, which had been in effect for nearly 50 years. Though our culture includes and encourages diverse viewpoints, this decision will affect many members of our community, as well as many aspects of our university. Whatever our personal views with regard to this ruling, our focus must remain on serving and supporting our mission and all members of our campus community, no matter their views. To do so, it is critical that we understand the implications of this decision across the university, both immediately and in the coming months and years, and make the necessary adjustments to ensure we are operating within the boundaries of the law.  

To help us understand the full ramifications of this decision, I am forming the Committee on Implications of Overturning Roe v. Wade. This committee will be chaired by Dean Laurie Lauzon Clabo, our chief health and wellness officer, and will include representatives from key university areas and functions, including women’s health, health education, curricula development, human resources, government affairs, student affairs, the Academic Senate, Office of the General Counsel, communications and others. Invitations to participate on the committee have been sent, and the committee’s charge will be to:

• Identify areas of concern or vulnerability across the university; 
• Assess the implications of the Supreme Court decision in these areas, and its specific applicability in Michigan, which currently holds a temporary injunction against enforcement of a 1931 ban on abortions; and
• Develop recommendations to address these concerns.  

I have asked the committee to begin its work immediately. We also plan to connect with other Michigan universities to share our respective learning.

In the meantime, I ask that we continue to support our mission and each other, as we always strive to do.  

Sincerely,

M. Roy Wilson
President